Before scheduling a consultation
Hi, hello and welcome! If you are reading this you are likely thinking about scheduling a consultation (how exciting!) Here are a few bits of information you want to know!
Most often, you’ll want to schedule a consultation when you are early-ish pregnant, between four to twelve weeks pregnant. Many homebirth midwives book VERY quickly! I take approximately zero to four clients in any due date range, so I can be optimally present for the families I attend. If you are further along than twelve weeks you absolutely can book a consultation. Please see https://www.illuminatedmidwifery.com/ for midwife availability.
Illuminated Midwifery attends home-births only, serving clients from St. Pete to Sarasota, then Riverview to Myakka (about one hour's driving distance from Palmetto FL. 34221) I see clients in their homes. My jeep and your living room is my office. I do not attend birth center births.
Typical appointments are thirty-five to seventy minutes long. We always take time to be sure your questions are answered.
We offer all the same testing and ultrasounds as an OB/GYN. We aim to tailor your testing to fit your needs, wants, and financial needs (please see: https://www.illuminatedmidwifery.com/midwiferyinfotoknow/blog-post-prenatal-testing-options ). Your labs are drawn at home or we can issue you a lab order for your labs to be drawn at an offsite laboratory location. Ultrasounds are ordered at off-site imaging centers or specific hospital locations as needed.
Certain conditions prevent Licensed Midwives from supporting clients with a homebirth such as uncontrolled diabetes, breech babies, twins, and high blood pressure.
Midwives are trained for emergencies and carry emergency medications and supplies. Careful and thorough prenatal care can prevent many emergencies from occurring. The vast majority of people who transfer during labor are for exhaustion or pain relief. Very few transfers are emergent. The family and the midwife create a custom plan during pregnancy for emergency options for each birth.
The cost of my care is listed in my FAQs & care packages https://www.illuminatedmidwifery.com/faq Many families pay with a payment plan. I give a discounted rate if paid in full by the second visit. I accept Health Savings accounts as payment for most families. I am supportive of seeking reimbursement and will help you do so with my contracted and established third-party biller. Third-party billing helps you get credit/reimbursement for your care if that is an option with your plan. Be sure to review the blog post about third-party billing: https://www.illuminatedmidwifery.com/blog
Illuminated Midwifery does not accept Medicaid. Medicaid cannot be billed for reimbursement.
Many families don’t know, what they don’t know, here are a couple of good links with further information to help you find the questions to find out what you don’t know! https://www.birthsongbotanicals.com/blogs/birth-song-blog/how-to-choose-the-right-midwife-for-your-home-birth-by-preparing-for-your-consultation Here is another good link to get ready for a consultation with a midwife: https://www.emunahmidwifery.com/blog/questions-to-ask-a-midwife-during-a-home-birth-consultation